Everything was relatively peaceful as the SSV Normandy cruised through dead space. All systems were functioning and the crew was in a rare state of almost monotonous tranquility. After months of constant struggles against impossible foes and even society, their days now were considerably calm. Commander Shepard refused to rest, knowing that the Reapers were still very much at work. With no leads or suspicions, the fiery woman had decided to utilize their free time by wiping out any geth they could get their hands on. Their latest search brought them to one of the far ends of the galaxy.

"No sign of geth activity, Commander," was the update that blared through the intercom, interrupting a tender moment. The Normandy's pilot, Joker, had a knack for doing so. The manner in which it was spoken indicated that no reply was necessary, and thankfully so.

Var Shepard had temporarily retreated from her hard exterior into a more feminine persona that only one other being had ever met: Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko. The raven-haired man pulled her lithe form more securely against his and rested a calloused hand on the bare skin of her hip. His lover sighed in content and rolled onto him, intertwining their legs as she went. The position was wonderfully intimate, but roused no excitement. Such ambitions had been spent only moments previous.

"See," Shepard asked, quite arrogantly. "We have time." The pair had been debating on whether or not they should get back to work. The ambitious woman had been rather reluctant and insisted on capturing a few more moments. For this, both of them would later come to appreciate.

The lieutenant was a good deal more practical. "If anything were to happen to the Normandy right now," Kaidan began "We'd both be dead." With the threat of the Reapers constantly at their door and the healthy sum of enemies they had, such an event was not a possibility, but a probability.

Shepard knew this quite well. It was merely a childish desire of hers to throw away their worries and indulge in each other for as long as she could. It would seem that time had come to a predictable end. She rolled her eyes at him and stood from her bed, stretching her arm high above her. The redhead could feel his eyes ravishing her body and made no move to hide herself from him. Instead, she chose to turn and grin coyly at him.

"Come now, Kaidan. You can't insist that we get back to work, then stare at me like a virgin." At last his eyes met hers and he saw the challenge in him. He resisted successfully. Seeing her bare before him had a certain influence over him, one he could not satisfy. Thankfully, the lieutenant was lapsing back into his Alliance mindset. He nodded and stood, displaying his own frame.

Unlike his commander, Kaidan did not exemplify his ambrosial appearance with suggestive movements. He donned his attire and graced her with a victorious smile. Her clever response was another roll of the eyes. She too slid into her N7 armor and made for the elevator. Her lover followed obediently, eager to please and happy to be near. The feeling was mutual.

As the door slid shut, an odd sensation filled the cramped space. A sort of wondrous comfort radiated from their union. It was a feeling they had grown quite familiar with, though neither would name nor acknowledge it.

"Brace for evasive maneuvers!" Before anyone had time to do so, the Normandy was twisting and turning for uncertain reasons. Shepard was thrown against the floor of the mess hall on her way to the medbay. Doctor Chakwas had wished to speak to the commander about her facial scars, but those matters would have to wait. The woman was thrown once more as the ship was hit. The Normandy was under attack.

"Kinetic barriers down," Joker informed over the speakers. Whoever was attacking was highly advanced. No known technologies had been able to get past Alliance stealth systems, let alone their evasive maneuvers. This called for backup.

Shepard clambered to her feet, wondering briefly if Kaidan was alright, and made for the main battery. She latched onto the rail and used it to stabilize herself. "Multiple hull breeches. Weapons offline. Somebody put out that fire!" Now fire had begun to spread. Outstanding!

Var prepared the distress signal and hoped that rescue would come soon, though she knew better. Things had gotten so desperate in such short moments. It would only take a few more to wipe them out. She hadn't commanding a bunch of thumb-suckers. Her crew knew where the escape pods were.

Shepard looked over her shoulder to see that fire had nearly consumed the mess hall. Her crew members were running like frantic children. She couldn't have expected much better. Another hit jolted her out of her musings and knocked her off her feet. She struggled to regain her composure and quickly donned her helmet to combat the smoke.

"Shepard," she heard behind her and glanced back to see her most prized possession.

"Distress beacon ready for launch," she stated, then fired it.

Kaidan nodded, a grim decision settling into his features. "Will the Alliance get here in time," he asked, looking back to see the fire spreading. He assumed not. Impact was known a third time and the both were tossed into the railing. Pipes exploded, blocking their way to the mess hall.

Angered by the situation, Var recovered quickly and grabbed a nearby extinguisher. The foam sated patches of fire, clearing a path. She tossed the apparatus to the lieutenant and went to work on the necessary programming. "I'm not doing this so they can find our frozen corpses," she barked "Get everyone to the escape shuttles."

Kaidan utilized the instrument to clear the rest. "Joker's still in the cockpit," he replied "He won't abandon ship."-Here the man hesitated and looked into her eyes.-"I'm not leaving, either." The lieutenant gave up on extinguishing the flame and moved to assist with the programming.

In frustration, Var abandoned her terminal and grabbed onto his arm, pushing him from his. "I gave you an order," she stated, scowling. She wanted him safe from this mess, not suffering with her. If ordering him around was what it took, then so be it. There was another explosion near them and she moved to check the other pipes and wires.

"Commander," he began, yearning to get personal but determined to know his place.

"Kaidan, go," she demanded, then turned her head to him. "Now."

He hesitated then nodded, taking off with a dread in his abdomen. Somehow he knew it would some time before they would meet again.